Best Walkie Talkies for Survival in 2022 [An Ultimate Guide]

Planning a trip in wild with friends? Or going far away from home for a break? Well, in either of the cases it’s always better to be ready with your survival kit.

And yeah, a walkie-talkie is an integral part of survival especially when it’s a group tour or trip. That’s the reason we’ve come up with our curated list of best walkie-talkies for survival on the market.

As usual, this list of products is what we rinsed out of a large number of available walkie talkie variants for survival on the market. Also, we’ve to filter these products based on a specific set of filtration criteria and hence you’ll get the best of both the world for sure.

So now, let’s move ahead with our list of reviews for the best walkie-talkie for survival in wild.

Buying Guide

Now as you’ve already studied reviews of best walkie talkies for survival, let’s take a quick look over some of the considerable factors.

As we’ve survival as our subject matter, we’d focus moreover things that can get you out of an undesired situation. But, still location could impact at scale. Yeah, before we decide on our preferred model we should have a clear idea about the location where we’re planning to head towards.

For instance, open grounds will have less impact on communication range on the other side locations with denser obstacles and obstructions would have a major impact on communication range. So, it’s always a good idea to go after an all-purpose walkie talkie that has the largest communication range.

Also, consider the fact that for FRS walkie-talkies you don’t require to obtain any license while for the GMRS units you require to possess a license before you use it legally.

These are some of the basic factors which are must-have when you purchase a walkie-talkie. Apart from that, there are some other crucial factors which should be considered as well.

1. Range:- Maximum distance between sets of devices for effective communication range is termed as operating range. In a nutshell, beyond this range, the device can’t transmit or receive messages.

First of all, we’d like to clarify that majority of manufacturers mention distance for ideal conditions which are practically impossible in real-world situations. So factors like the density of trees or rocks, mountains, uneven terrain, etc have a major impact and hence reduces the range drastically. 

In real-world situations and after a lot of practical experience, our experts have concluded that even the best walkie-talkies for survival would deliver a range of 3-5 miles in wild conditions.

Moreover, the device category also affects in communication range. For example, an FRS set can utilize at max 1W of power to transmit a message, and in such case range comes under 2 miles or even less.

2. Weight & Form Factor: – As one of the best walkie talkies for survival will feature as less weight as possible. Yeah, as you’re supposed to carry along for a long time it shouldn’t be bulky. So lesser the weight, the better the experience.

Moreover, the design also plays a crucial role. Yeah, if it’s designed in an ergonomic way then it’s always better as you can hold it comfortably anytime.

Another good feature one should expect is a belt clip. Yeah, as it’s not always a good idea to open up your carry bag to take your device out. It can even result in legged communication when the responses required are of an emergency nature.

3. Channels & Privacy Codes: – In case, there are so many RF sources available in your surroundings, then you might find it difficult to transmit data because of too much interference.

Usually, most modern walkie talkies come up with 22 primary channels which one can use for hybrid connection of FRS/GMRS sets. Well, our experience says that 22 is more than enough for easy communication because it’ll be hardest to not find a single available channel. Yeah, connecting two walkie talkies shouldn’t be a problem if you’ve really bought a best one.

Moreover, available privacy codes and convenient to set channel-specific privacy codes enable one to set up to 2000 available frequencies to communicate.

So, even if you don’t find an available channel then you’ll have an available frequency for yourself in even the worst case.

So, always aim to get at least 22 primary channels with as many as possible available privacy codes.

4. Battery Life: – As we are focusing on survival-specific gadgets here, it becomes essential to grab something that lasts long enough with a single charge.

Also, operating a 2-way radio with a battery is a bit complicated because you have to predict everything for multiple channels as even if you don’t keep communicating constantly, people in your team will surely require your device to be up and running.

Usually, most walkie-talkies for survival are supported with rechargeable batteries. However, as recharging is not possible in wild, ideally one should select a device with multiple power adaptability. 

And, according to our experts, many of the walkie talkies available on the market nowadays, offers rechargeable battery option along with AA or AAA separate input compatibility.

Well, these battery cells are available in all general stores and hence you can carry a couple of batteries in your rucksack as well.

5. Weather Resistance: – As wild conditions are always unpredictable, we should keep durability in mind all the time. Yeah, one should opt for a walkie talkie that not just last longer but also resistant to all sort of weather conditions.

After all, you might require to walk miles with a walkie-talkie in your hand in extreme weather conditions like rain, storm or thunder. So, your selected option should be resistant to all these weather types.

And, this feature is something that makes an ordinary walkie-talkie one of the best walkie talkie for survival.

So, always opt for a talkie that can do well with water, dust, or sand. And, expect a waterproofing rating of at least IP67. As such devices can become resistant to water for up to 30 minutes in case it accidentally falls in the water.

Best Walkie Talkies for Survival in 2022

As mentioned earlier, our list comprises some of the most recommended and best two-way radios for a specific purpose of survival. And, as it’s a bit serious purpose of our life, we’ve implied all our advanced filters and weighing elements to curate out only top-rated picks in this list.

So now, without wasting time, let’s focus on what we have to serve our readers! Should we?

#1. Retevis RT22 Walkie Talkie For Survival – Latest & Updated Pick

Looking for compact walkie talkies at an affordable cost for survival? Retevis RT22 is one of the best ones in the market with 4.6 user ratings. It comes with attractive and efficient features to use for multiple purposes. These walkie talkies are of military design, Green in color with strong construction.

They are easily portable, as they are lightweight. You can simply slide the walkie talkie into your pockets effortlessly. The walkie talkies come with a VOX function for hands-free communication. You do not have to press the buttons to talk. The device will automatically detect your voice and transmit it to the person at the other end.

The walkie talkies come with a charger, which can charge the walkie talkies at the same time. You also get belt clips to place the devices. There is an emergency alarm feature in this walkie talkie, which will be useful when you go solo on trips like camping, hiking or trekking. You can press the alarm to seek help during emergencies.

The walkie talkies deliver audio with great clarity for effective communication. You can adjust the squelch according to the environment you are in. Though the antenna of the walkie talkie is small, it provides a strong range. These radios are ideal for both indoor and outdoor activities. They are suitable for adults. These are not recommended for kids.

The battery saves feature will save the battery when the device is not in use. The battery capacity is 1000mAh. So, you can expect decent battery life of up to 8 hours with these radios. The walkie talkie weighs just 1.01 pounds, extremely easy to carry without any strain. This is a huge advantage for survival purposes.

All in all, this is an affordable walkie talkie that comes with powerful features for multiple purposes. It is worth your money. As the brand is popular among users for its reliability and quality, you can place your trust in this. It is a great pick for survival as it comes with an emergency alarm feature, battery-saving function and supports long-range communication with clear sound.

Pros & Cons of Retevis RT22 Two Way Radio for Survival

#2. Motorola Talkabout MH230R – For Long Range Communication

Don’t get surprised if you come across one more review for a product from Motorola in this list. Yeah, the brand itself has the best class reputation among many manufacturers of communication devices and hence one can’t simply neglect their products.

When walkie-talkies and long-distance communication were a dream back in those times, Motorola was busy in developing the thing that people are talking about. Yeah, first long-distance communication was established using a walkie-talkie model of Motorola in the US.

Now, if we talk about this particular model then it seems like they’ve rinsed all their expertise and experience in designing this variant.

Yeah, MH230R caters to an operating range of around 23 miles in ideal conditions. Well, as usual, we’d like to inform our readers that the given range is what lab tests say for the gadget. But, in real-life scenarios, it will be reduced to around 5-6 miles of range.

With a larger operating range, one can stay in touch with you all the times when they need your help to get back to camp during situations of survival.

Well, it does not just range that you should be bothering too much, in fact, it’s efficiency and that’s what we’re trying to say and convey to our readers. Yeah, it’s most efficient in delivering the messages within its range and that should be noted by you if you’re looking for a gadget that truly assists you when you most need it.

Also, if we talk about available channels and security codes then there are 11 channels available on this gadget along with 121 security codes. So, you’ll have 1331 channels available for establishing the connection.

All channels are available with an alert function so your teammates or group members will quickly get a notification if you stuck in any adverse situations.

Moreover, the design is completely ergonomic in nature and one can hold it comfortably on any kind of trip. Also, it’s compact in shape and lighter in weight hence storage won’t ever become an issue for you.

It’s fully weatherproof and can face worse conditions while supporting you to get out of it.

Motorola MH230R comes with a rechargeable battery of 8 hours uptime. However, the manufacturer has not mentioned anything about alternative power options.

All in all, this is one of the best walkie talkies for survival mode in outdoor hiking adventures or skiing or camping trips.

Pros & Cons of Motorola MH30R

#3. Baofeng BF-888S Walkie Talkie – For Uninterrupted Messages During Survival

Yeah, another great pick on our list is from Baofeng. Well, model BF-888S comes with plenty of features that one can’t simply neglect.

It’s designed ergonomically by keeping comfort and emergency in mind. Yeah, handling this gadget is fun and won’t ever be tiresome.

Moreover, it’s light in weight and compact in size so one can easily store it inside pockets of their carry bag or can simply carry it in the hand.

Also, if you’re working on a construction site or as a guard then this gadget might become your go-to tool for all communication-related activities. Yeah, it works great when it comes to communication in real-time.

It also comes with a rechargeable battery that makes it convenient when you with your friends on an outdoor trip. Also, a car charger adapter is available for charging the batteries so you can charge it almost anywhere you like.

Yeah, with higher power performance you could stay assured for longer conversations if needed. And, that should be a concern of yours when you’re looking for a walkie-talkie for survival.

Supports over 16 channels and that’s something making it a versatile communication gadget.

Now, if we talk about other features then it features a 1500 mAh Li-ion battery, a built-in VOX function, compatibility for PC programming, 105 CDCSS/50 CTCSS, an in-built battery saver, NOAA Radio, emergency alarming system, and much more.

Yeah, it’s packed with more features and functionality than you might have imagined. And, all these come at an attractive price which almost anyone could afford without any issue.

Also, as additional amenities, you get a low voltage alert function, a time-out timer, and an inbuilt flashlight.

Now, the foremost important characteristic of a walkie talkie one might be waiting for is its communication range. Yeah, it provides a communication range of around two to four kilometers and it further depends on the obstacles present within the range. Yeah, the lesser the obstacles, the better the range.

All in all, this two-way radio cum one of the best walkie talkie for survival guarantees smooth and relentless communication for everyone, no matter where you’re planning to use it.

Pros & Cons of Baofeng BF-888S Walkie Talkie

#4. Midland LXT118 FRS Walkie Talkie – Best Value For The Money Walkie Talkie For Survival

And, here it comes for budget-bound people. Yeah, our best budget walkie talkie for survival is from Midland.

Well, the set of Midland LXT118 FRS comes in 2 pairs and is selling at the most modest price on the market. Yeah, the cost is the key factor behind its success in the market.

Firstly, these walkie-talkies for survival provide a broader range and hence assuring you for the most comfortable communication experience with your team members no matter on what location you’re using it.

Moreover, it is backed by the Handsfree feature, by which you can make contact and communicate without using your hands. As stated earlier, this feature comes in handy during hard times and emergency situations.

By handsfree activation, we mean that you can activate this device without any physical interaction. Yeah, it works with voice command and it comes in handy when you get stuck in between any chaotic situations. Just a simple command & you’re in touch with your mates. Isn’t it amazing!

Now, if talk our subject matter of being useful for survival, then automatic channel scanning capabilities is one of the most essential features we’re getting from Midland LXT118 FRS walkie talkie.

Also, keypad lock functionality helps in avoiding accidental activation of other features and functionalities.

A feature we liked the most is auto-squelch for range extension. Yeah, it helps a lot for smooth and flawless reception of signal as well as of information transmitted.

Moreover, the signal strength indicator and battery life extender are a couple of additional features it’s featuring at a very affordable price range.

At last, if we talk about available range then the manufacturer claims that it goes smooth within a range of 18 miles. However, as we all know, their range is for most ideal and obstacle-less locations, and hence in outdoor and wild, we could expect it to work well within 3-4 miles of range.

Pros & Cons of Midland LXT118 FRS walkie talkie

Additional Features

As the market is stiff and competition is high, most manufacturers are trying to provide the best value for their user’s money. And, hence they serve them with more and more additional features within their gadgets.

Here are some of the most prominent additional features that you should also consider as bonuses while buying or selecting your best walkie talkie for survival.

1. VOX: – This feature allows you to communicate without handling the gadget physically. Yeah, with your voice you can activate your device and start communicating directly.

2. NOAA Radio: – As survival is a thing of uncertainty, this feature helps you in predicting emergencies before it actually arises. Yeah, NOAA broadcasting radio sends weather updates to all devices and by staying in touch with NOAA you can prepare yourself for adverse conditions before it comes in front of you and your team.

3. Flashlight: – This is another feature that eliminates the need for an extra gadget with you in your backpack. It helps during the night, and we’ve experienced its need so many times.

4. Emergency Alerts: – This feature helps in transmitting emergency messages among teams and other nearby devices prominently and quickly. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best two-way radio for survival?

It solely depends on your requirement, however by selecting as many features and functionalities for you that help you for all purposes during the hard time we’d like to mention Uniden’s model as one of the best walkie-talkies for survival.

2. What is the strongest walkie-talkie for survival?

Baofeng BF-888S is the most durable pick on our list. It’s not just strongest but also fully weather resistant and hence capable of handling uncertain and adverse weather conditions that we face in the wild.

3. Are walkie-talkies good for emergencies?

Yes. Walkie-talkies allow you to send emergency messages to nearby available help and hence could save you from hard times. However, it again depends on what sort of walkie-talkie you’re carrying with you.

4. What should I look for while buying a walkie-talkie?

We’ve crafted a detailed buying guide for you regarding this question and hence we’d like you to go through it once and you’ll know what all you need to know about walkie-talkies before you buy it.

5. What is the longest range walkie-talkie?

All manufacturers mention 15-30 miles range. However, it’s not true in most cases. Yeah, as their mentioned range is for an ideal location without any sort of interference in the frequency. So, at last, you’ll achieve around 2-5 miles in the best case. However, it again depends on device to device and hence you should look over each product separately regarding this information.

6. Can walkie-talkies are traceable?

In most cases, it’s not possible to trace a walkie-talkie with any GPS tracker unless and until you don’t mount a separate GPS chip on a walkie-talkie.

Bottomline

So, that’s all for one of the best walkie-talkies for survival. We’ve covered everything you need to know before buying or even selecting your preferred choice. And hence, you could choose one based on your requirements.

In case, you’re not so sure about which is the best walkie talkie for all your needs then we’d like to help you a bit by referring you to one of the most prominent pieces. 

Yeah, you can choose Uniden’s SX327-CK model as it comes with all the required features and functionalities that you need on hand during emergency situations.

Moreover, it’s not so pricey and hence you could afford it pretty well. Just go for it and share your experience with us too.